River Systems: Tributaries, Confluence, and Distributaries

Questions and Answers

What is a tributary?

A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream, a main stream (or parent river), or a lake.

What is a confluence?

A confluence is the point where two or more bodies of water meet together.

What is a distributary?

A distributary is a river or stream that branches off the main stream and flows away.

In which figure is the River Hugli shown?

Fig 1.29 Signup and view all the answers

Which river is depicted in Fig 1.26?

The Büyük Menderes River Signup and view all the answers

What is river bifurcation?

River bifurcation is the phenomenon where a river divides into branches called distributaries. Signup and view all the answers

What colour represents cultivable land, plateaus, deserts and plains on a topographical map?

Yellow Signup and view all the answers

On a topographical map, which colour is used to denote forest areas or lowland areas?

Green Signup and view all the answers

Which colour is used to signify perennial lined wells, perennial streams, lakes and ponds, and water bodies in general on a map legend?

Blue Signup and view all the answers

What do contour lines, their heights, and relief features like mountains get represented by on a map?

Brown Signup and view all the answers

Which colour indicates dry streams and surveyed trees on a topographical map?

Black Signup and view all the answers

What colour is used to represent permanent huts, settlements, and cities on a map?

Red Signup and view all the answers

Why is Earth considered a unique planet?

It is the only place in the known universe confirmed to host life. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of a globe?

To study the various aspects of the Earth in a three-dimensional model. Signup and view all the answers

How does a globe represent the Earth?

A globe is a map printed onto a sphere. Signup and view all the answers

What features can you study using a globe?

The relative shapes and sizes of the continents, countries, and oceans. Signup and view all the answers

What is a map?

A representation of the Earth or a portion of the Earth. Signup and view all the answers

Which planet is the Earth from the Sun?

The third planet. Signup and view all the answers

What is a plan?

A sketch of a building, school, church, or house drawn to scale. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a map from satellite pictures and aerial photographs?

A map is drawn to scale, providing greater accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the word 'map'?

The word 'map' comes from the Latin word 'mappa'. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cadastral map?

A map that gives full details of properties and buildings drawn on a large scale. Signup and view all the answers

Name two types of maps based on scale.

Large scale maps and small scale maps. Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of a large scale map.

A plan of a village showing buildings and details. Signup and view all the answers

If you are facing the sun in the morning, which direction are you facing?

East Signup and view all the answers

What direction is behind you if you are facing east?

West Signup and view all the answers

Which direction does the Pole Star always indicate?

North Signup and view all the answers

What does a scale on a map represent?

The ratio between a distance on the map and the actual distance on land. Signup and view all the answers

What type of map shows detailed geographical features of a small area?

Large scale map Signup and view all the answers

What direction does your right hand point if you are facing east in the morning?

South Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of scales mentioned?

Verbal, Numerical Fraction, Graphic Signup and view all the answers

How are bearings measured?

In a clockwise direction. Signup and view all the answers

What are topographical maps used to show?

Detailed features of an area, including natural features such as hills, valleys, and rivers, and man-made features such as buildings, roads, settlements and canals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scale difference between large scale and small scale maps?

Large scale maps depict a smaller area with more detail, while small scale maps show a larger area with less detail. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the first cartographers to compile maps into a book?

Gerardus Mercator and Jodocus Hondius. Signup and view all the answers

What is commonly displayed in wall maps?

Large areas of the Earth, often used for display purposes in offices and classrooms. Signup and view all the answers

What type of map would you find in a book used for educational purposes?

Atlas maps. Signup and view all the answers

What do political maps focus on showing?

The boundaries and divisions of countries around the world. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a map's title?

To identify the map. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four cardinal points?

North, South, East, West. Signup and view all the answers

What type of map shows international borders and state capitals?

Political map. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of map depicts physical features like mountains and rivers?

Physical map. Signup and view all the answers

What does a thematic map represent?

Particular features like vegetation, distribution of minerals, industries, etc. Signup and view all the answers

What component of a map would you use to find directions?

Directions or Cardinal points. Signup and view all the answers

Which direction does the Earth rotate on its axis?

From West to East Signup and view all the answers

What are the four cardinal points?

North, South, East, West Signup and view all the answers

What tool do mariners use to find their direction over the ocean?

Magnetic compass Signup and view all the answers

What did compasses disguise as during World War II to help prisoners of war?

Buttons and razor blades Signup and view all the answers

When a compass is placed on a flat surface, in which direction does the needle point?

North-South Signup and view all the answers

Name the four intermediate directions.

North West (NW), North East (NE), South West (SW), South East (SE) Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of a river called?

Source Signup and view all the answers

In which stage of a river are meanders typically formed?

Middle course Signup and view all the answers

What landform is created at the mouth of a river?

Delta Signup and view all the answers

What type of valley is formed in the upper course of a river?

V-shaped valley Signup and view all the answers

Name one feature formed in the lower course of a river.

Estuary or delta Signup and view all the answers

What is a drainage system?

The area drained by a river and its tributaries Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of a river is associated with hydroelectricity production?

Upper course Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'meander' refer to?

A broad S-shaped loop or curve in a river Signup and view all the answers

Who drew the map of the world in 150 CE?

Claudius Ptolemy Signup and view all the answers

What is the science of making maps called?

Cartography Signup and view all the answers

What are some substitutes of maps mentioned in the text?

Satellite images and aerial photographs Signup and view all the answers

Why do maps show a distorted picture of continents near the poles?

Due to projections Signup and view all the answers

What is a sketch used for?

To give an idea of the location with the help of a drawing and arrows to show directions Signup and view all the answers

How do maps help in modern communication?

Maps are an essential part of modern communication. Signup and view all the answers

Why is understanding maps considered essential for everyone in modern times?

Because maps are widely used for various purposes including GIS through computers and daily navigation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation of a map compared to the globe?

A map shows only a part of the globe on a flat surface. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rivers

A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream, main stream, or lake, and does not flow directly into a sea or ocean.
A confluence is the point where two or more bodies of water meet together.
A distributary is a river or stream that branches off the main stream and flows away, often found in river deltas, resulting from sediment buildup along the main channel.

Map Study

Maps are important tools in today's practical world, serving as storehouses of information.
Colors are used to represent different features on topographical maps, such as:
- Yellow: cultivable land, plateaus, deserts, and plains
- Green: forest areas or lowland areas
- White: rocky areas or badland, hence uncultivable land
- Blue: perennial lined wells, perennial streams, lakes, and ponds, water bodies in general
- Brown: contour lines, heights, and relief features like mountains
- Black: dry streams and surveyed trees
- Red: permanent huts, settlements, cities
Symbols are used to represent features on maps, such as rivers, ponds, settlements, roads, and trees.

Types of Maps

Plan: A sketch of a building, school, church, or house, drawn to scale, giving an idea of a small area on a large scale with all necessary details.
Map: A representation of the Earth or a portion of the Earth drawn to scale on a flat surface, giving a good amount of information at a glance.
Types of Maps:
- Large Scale Maps: Show a small area in great detail, e.g., topographical maps and city plans
- Small Scale Maps: Show a larger area, often used for display purposes, e.g., wall maps and atlas maps

Compass Directions

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
If facing the sun in the morning, you are facing east; west is behind you, and your left hand points north, while your right hand points south.
The Pole Star always points north and is visible in the sky, used to find direction.

Scales

A scale is a measuring line that shows the relationship between the distance between two places on a map and their actual distance on land.
Types of Scales:
- Verbal or Statement Scale: Expressed in words, e.g., 1cm on the map represents 50km on the ground.
- Numerical Fraction or Representative Fraction or R.F.: Expressed as a ratio, e.g., 1:50,000.
- Graphic or Linear Scale: A line divided into equal parts, each part representing a certain distance on the ground.

Globe

A globe is a spherical model of the Earth, showing the relative shapes and sizes of continents, countries, and oceans.
The globe is the only accurate way of showing the three-dimensional model of the Earth.

History of Maps

The first attempts at collecting maps into a book were made by Gerardus Mercator and Jodocus Hondius in 1636.
The book featured a picture of Atlas, the Greek mythological giant, holding the Earth on its cover, leading to the naming of the book as an atlas.

Features Formed in Different Stages of a River

Upper Course: Fast-flowing, eroding the land, creating V-shaped valleys and waterfalls.
Middle Course: Slowing down, depositing sediment, creating meanders, oxbow lakes, and floodplains.
Lower Course: Slowing down even further, depositing a large amount of sediment, creating a delta.

Importance of Maps

Maps are essential for learning and an important tool of a geographer.
They are used by explorers, reference personnel, city architects, planners, weather-forecasters, motorists, traders, tourists, scouts, and guides.
Maps are also useful for students to gain knowledge of the world.

Disadvantages of Maps

Maps, though drawn to scale, become narrow near the Poles due to projections, showing a distorted picture of continents and countries sometimes.
Maps are a two-dimensional representation of the Earth's surface, showing only a part of the globe on a flat surface.

Directions

Cardinal Points: North, South, East, and West
Intermediate Directions: North West (NW), North East (NE), South West (SW), and South East (SE)
Directions help us study the phenomena of celestial bodies and find our location on a map or globe.

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Description

Learn about the different components of river systems, including tributaries, confluence, and distributaries. Understand their definitions and formations.